Cotton-chopper



(No Model.)

. J. J. BALLARD.

ooTToN GHOPPER.

No. 872,008.V Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

@/f@ y 'y hegmpnw. wnmngm o c Narren STATES armer retest JOI-IN J.BALLARD, OF TERRELL, TEXAS.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,008, dated @oteber25, 1887.

Application filed March l0, 1887. Serial No. 230,443. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.- p Be it known that I, JOHN J. BALLARD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Terrell, in the count-y ofKaufman and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Cotton-Choppers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cotton-choppers; and itconsists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, thatwill be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Fignrel is aside elevation ofthe cotton-chopperembodying my improvements, parts of the frame being broken away todisclose interior constructions. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same.Figs 3 and 4 are detailed views.

The frame is composed of a pair of parallel side bars, A, connectedtogether at their front ends by a block, B, and at the rear ends by atransverse bar, C.

V'D represents the handles, which are similar to plow-handles, and havetheir lower ends bolted to the outer sides of the side bars. The saidhandles are connected together by means of a rung, E, and are connectedto the side bars by means of vertical standards F.

Grepresents a clevis, which is attached to the block B by means of apivotal bolt, H.

I represents a transverse driving-shaft,which is journalcd in suitablebearing-blocks secured on the under sides of the side bars, A, at asuitable distance from the front end of the frame. The ends of thisshaft project beyond the outer sides of the side bars, and to the saidprojecting ends of the shaft is rigidly attached a pair of driving andsupporting wheels, K.

L represents a initer gear-wheel, which is rigidly secured to the shaftlata suitable distance to one side of the center thereof.

M represents a longitudinal shaft, which is journaled in blocks N, thatconnectthe bars A on the under sides thereof. The front end of the shaftis provided with a rigid miterpinion, O, that meshes with the gear-WheelL. The shaft M is made in two sections connected together by a collar,P, which is rigid to the front section and forms a beardng for the frontend of the rear section. On the latter is feathered a sliding collar, R,forming a clutch,

which is adapted to engage the collar P when moved forward, and therebylock the two sections of the shaft M rigidly together, for the purposeto be hereinafter described. rear end of the shaft M is rigidly attacheda a miter gear-wheel, S.

T represents a short vertical shaft, which'is journaled in bearing-boxesU, that connect the bars A, and are arranged on the upper and lowersides of the said bars. Near the upper end of this shaft is amiter-pinion, V, which engages the gear-wheel S, and to the lower end ofthe said shaft is attached a circular plate, W. This plate is providedwith aseries of radial grooves, W', and in the center of each groove isa radial longitudinal slot, W2. The grooves V are formed on the upperside of the plate T, and the slots communicate with the said groovesand-extend entirely through the said plate.

X represents a series of supporting feet, each of which has its upperend bent atright angles to form an arm, X', adapted to fit in one ofthegrooves of the plate. A clamping-bolt, X2, is provided for each of thesaid arms, the said clamping bolts being adapted to extend through theslots WV, and thereby secure the arms to the plate. By reason of theslots W2, the arms may be moved outwardly from the center of the plateto any desired distance. To the lower end of each supportingsfoot issecured avhoe or chopper, Y, the said hoes or choppers having twostraight cutting-edges arranged at a suitable angle, and being dat ontheir lower sides and angular on their upper sides, as shown, therebyforming inclines Y', which extend from the center of the hoes to thecutting-edges thereof.

Z represents a pair of vertical cutters, which are bolted to the outersides of thc side bars, A, and are provided attheir upper ends with aseries of openings, U', whereby they may be vertically adj usted on thebolts and thus caused to run at any desired depth in the ground. Theopposing inner sides of the cutters are curved, as shown at Fig. 2, andthe lower edges of the cutters are rounded, as shown at-Fig. l.

Draft-rods A' are attached at their rear ends v to the cutters, and havetheir front ends connected to the side bars by means of bolts B', whichextend through slots C', formed in the To the d IOO , rection.

front ends of the draft-rods. By means of these slots the inclination ofthe cutters Z may be regulated, as will be readily understood.

C represents a handlever, which is fulcrumed to the underside of one ofthehandles and is connected to the sliding clutch-collar R by means ofarod, B2. The function of this lever and rod is to move the clutch-collarRy forward or back, so as to cause the gears S and V, which rotate theplate W, to be connected to or disconnected from the gears which connectthe shaft M with the shaft I.

The operation of my invention is as follows: A horse is attached to themachine, and the operator takes hold ofthe handles and directs thc horseso that the machine is drawn, with its driving-wheels and cutters Z, onopposite sides of a row of cotton-plants. A suitable number of feetcarrying chopping-hoes are attached to the plate W, as before described;the clutch-collar It is caused to engage the col` lar l?, and therotation of the shaft lis communicated to the plate YV, thereby causingthe choppinglhoes to whirl n ahorizontal .di-

As the machine moves forward, the chopping hoes serve to chop out someof the plants, and thus leave only a sufficient number of them standingto make a crop. vlf the plants are very thick, the plate W will beprovided with chopping-ho'esto its full eapaeity, but if the plants arenot so thick the number of chopping-hoes U will be reduced. The functionofthe cutters Zis to work the earth on opposite sides of the row ofplants, and thereby cultivate the plants at the same time that they arechopped or thinned.

Having' thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination, withthe frame and the operatinggearing, of the vertical shaft T, supportedby the frame and acted on by the operating-gearing, the horizontal plateW, rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft and provided withradialgrooves, and slots in said grooves, the feet having theirupperends bent at right angles, fitted in said grooves and adjustably securedtherein by bolts passing through the radial slots, thelower ends of thefeet carrying choppers, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame provided with the handles D,.ot` thetransverse shaft l, the longitudinal sectional shaft M, geared thereto,the vertical shaft T, geared-to the shaft M, the plate W, secured to thelower end of the shaft T and carrying the choppers, and the lever G2,pivoted on the handle and connected by a rod, B2, to a clutch, R, on theshaft ll/I, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claimV the foregoing as my Own l have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. BALLARD.

Witnesses:

J OE. P. MOORE, A. D. LLOYD.

